Automatic light control



June P v AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL Filed July 25, 1995 l l l l INVENTO HUGQ PETER ATTORNEYS Patented June 24, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2 AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL 2 Hugo Pieter, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 25, 1945-, Serial No. 606,991 1 Claim. (dim-4) My invention has for its primary object to provide a simple and effective electric light or lamp means associated with a table carrying one or more slidable drawers, whereby a certain drawer opened will close the lamp circuit for illuminating purposes.

One specific object of my invention is to provide a switch box having a contractible or extensible means, whereby the end of a drawer of a predetermined length will engage the switch box contact means and make or break the lamp circuit.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary sectional elevation of a table frame and drawer equipped with a switch box embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the same, the section being indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a face view of the installed switch box, with parts broken away and in section as indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the telescopic switch box, and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric lamp circuit controlled by a sliding movement of a drawer, which may be of different length than the drawer illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring by characters to the drawing, I indicates a table frame having a top I and a slidable drawer 2 mounted in the frame together with the standard 3 of a lamp, it being understood that, in practice, two of such lamps are provided.

The back panel of the table frame is formed with a rectangular opening therein for the reception of a correspondingly shaped fixed switch box unit 4. The outer edge of the unit is provided with laterally extended apertured ears 5 encircled which brackets are adjustably secured to the ends of the box unit 4 by screws 6'. All of the above described fittings, except the switch box, are of standard type and form no part of my invention, except that they serve as anchor means.

Secured to the ears 5 by screws 1 is a skeleton flat bracket 8, which bracket carries a central insulating block 9 and companion plug sockets IllI0. The sockets are provided for the reception of plugs II--II, which are connected by wires I I to the pair of lamps 3, one only of which is shown.

The block 9 of the bracket has extending therethrough a wire cable I2 terminating at its outer end with a plug I2, which may be coupled to any suitable current supply means. The outer face of the box unit assemblage has fitted thereto a standard finishing switch plate I3, which plate and the bracket 8 are secured by screws I3. It should be understood that the nested assemblage is anchored to the back panel of the frame I by wood screws I4, which pass through suitable apertures in the rectangular bracket 6 and engage the back panel.

The two wires I5I5' of the current supply cable I2 are connected to a spring controlled make and break switch l6 and one of the plug sockets Ill. The said pair of sockets are also connected together by wires I'|-I'I'. The wire I5, connected to one of the plugs, is also connected, by a wire I8, to the spring controlled switch I 6, which standard switch is provided with a yieldable button I6, adapted to engage the inner end of the drawer 2 when said drawer is closed.

The spring controlled make and break switch I6 is secured to the bottom of a rectangu lar switch box unit 4, which switch box unit is in telescopic union with the fixed unit 4. The bottom of the telescopic unit is formed with an opening I6 through which the switch extends, whereby its button is exposed for engagement with the end of the table drawer. The telescopic switch box unit 4 is adjustable to vary the depth of the switch box and is held in its adjusted position by set screws 4", as best indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

, Obviously the moveable unit of the switch box is adjusted in and out, with reference to the length of the drawer 2, whereby the varying length of said drawer will abut the switch button, when the drawer is closed, to thus break the lighting circuit or circuits and when the drawer is opened, the spring, associated with the button I6, will force the same out, as indicated in dotted with rectangular brackets 6, the slotted legs of lines Figure 1, whereby contact is closed between the wires l5 and I8 to complete the light circuits. As shown in the diagrammatic view Figure 5, when the drawer 2 is of greater length than that illustrated, the make and break switch may be adjusted backwardly, as indicated in dotted lines.

I claim:

In a table frame having a back wall and a slidable drawer varying in space from the back wall and an electric lamp mounted on the table frame; the combination of means for energizing the lamp when the drawer is open including a fixed switch box section secured to the back wall, a second switch box section closed at its bottom in adjustable telescopic union with the fixed switch box section, an electric section connecting the fixed box section and lamp and a spring controlled switch extending through the adjustable box section engageable with the inner end of the drawer for controlling said circuit, irrespective of the space between'the back wall of the table and the inner end of the drawer.

HUGO PETER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,966,569 Voorhees July 1'7, 1934 2,268,831 Klein Jan. 6, 1942 1,024,902 Kronberger Apr. 30, 1912 1,038,963 Roe Sept. 17, 1912 1,275,735 Newton Aug. 13, 1918 2,365,089 Bourgeois Dec. 12, 1944 1,143,290 Lippincott June 15, 1915 

